Tip 1: What do I need to know about the microwave oven?

Hi-tech

Tip 1: What do I need to know about the microwave oven?

Microwave ovens in most families so farThey are used only for warming up dishes or preparing hot sandwiches with melted cheese, but the possibilities of even ordinary microwave ovens are not limited to this. There are rumors about the harm of microwaves, but if you follow simple advice, then all the negative can be reduced to zero and enjoy healthy and quality food.

A modern microwave oven complements the stove, and oftencan even replace it. On the microwave it is worth paying attention to those who have small kitchens to replace the oven. After all, the microwave oven not only heats dishes and defrosts food, but also perfectly prepares food. The microwave has a high efficiency: all energy goes to cooking, and not to heating the air.

Some consider food from a microwave ovenharmful. It is a myth. In microwave ovens the same radio waves as in conventional radios, but of a different frequency and higher power. However, there is no residual radiation in the food. Scientists say that thanks to microwaves in developed countries, the incidence of stomach cancer has decreased, since the technology of cooking dishes is very similar to the most useful way of processing - steam.

Modes

In the microwave you can cook the second course,Soups, cereals, desserts and hot snacks. However, it all depends on the built-in functions and modes. For example, to bake pies, it is better to buy a microwave oven with convection, then the fan will evenly distribute hot air, helping to bake the dough qualitatively. However, using some recipes, baking can also be cooked in the usual microwave mode. Also, the convection function will speed up cooking. And for fans of fried foods, there are stoves with a grill.

Dishes

As dishes in a microwave oven usefaience, porcelain, ceramics, special plastic and even paper cups. The main thing is that there are no silvery and golden sputtering on the dishes, otherwise it will cause small electrical discharges.

Helpful Tips

Make sure that the oven door is clean andflat, closed tightly, from time to time pay attention to the condition of the rubber gasket on the inside of the door. If it becomes dirty or damages, there is a leakage of microwaves. The indicator of leakage will be radio interference, affecting the operation of radio and mobile phone.
Do not block any ventilation openings. The mains lead must not touch hot surfaces.
Do not turn on an empty microwave, otherwise the device that generates electromagnetic waves will fail.
If the volume of microwave is less than 24 liters, it is not recommended to put a dish on the turntable, which weighs more than 3.5 kg.
If you want to warm up something small (one sandwich, for example), put a glass of water in the chamber: the excess microwaves will go to its warming up.

Tip 2: Which oven is better - microwave or electric with convection? Reviews

The subject of numerous disputes is the choice between a microwave oven and an electric oven. To make it easier to navigate in such household appliances, you need to know some features of the operation of these devices.

It should be taken into account immediately - microwave oven and electricThe oven has several different uses. Some functions in them are similar, while others determine their belonging to completely different classes of household appliances. The possibilities and principles of the operation of a microwave oven and an electric oven should be started from the point of view of interchangeability. A microwave oven uses high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, which causes food molecules to vibrate at an equally high frequency and heat up to considerable temperatures. This allows you to quickly warm up the already cooked food. Oven is quite possible, but here the speed of heating food from hot air is somewhat lower, and evenness of heating leaves much to be desired. From the point of view of saving time and energy, the microwave in heating food is the undisputed champion.

There are many rumors and reliable factson the influence of high-frequency radiation on the human body, which reduces the popularity of microwave ovens for some people. By the way, many such conjectures are not entirely true.

This benefits the microwave ovenend. According to the stories of experienced housewives, there are no specific dishes that could be cooked in a microwave, but can not be made in an oven. However, it should be fully justified: if such a class of household appliances exists, then its advantage is not unique. The first important argument is the speed of not only heating up, but also cooking. The same potato baked with vegetables in the microwave is prepared much faster, although it is inferior in taste to the same dish, but cooked in the oven. The second important point is the use of a microwave oven for heating and defrosting, its universality in many everyday matters. The compactness of the microwave oven is also considered a significant plus. This technique in the interior is the least noticeable, and so small dimensions with a solid set of functions gives the microwave oven a tangible advantage.

It is well known that due to the shorter time of exposure to high temperatures, 20% more vitamins and nutrients are stored in food.

Then what is beneficial is an oven with forcedconvection? Most importantly its purpose, which can not be replaced by a microwave oven - baking baking and confectionery. Due to the smooth and uniform heating, the dough in the oven is well suited and has time to qualitatively bake, which can not be achieved by microwaves. Of course, many microwave ovens have a built-in heating element and a grill, but the volume of the camera and the heating power do not allow preparing serious confectionery products such as muffins, biscuit or curd casserole. Is there anything that makes the microwave oven or oven in the kitchen mandatory ? Everything depends on the needs and lifestyle, habits and other small details. For example, a microwave oven with a grill bakes a chicken on a spit much faster and without loss of quality, in the oven it's almost impossible to properly cook popcorn, but you can bake delicious homemade bread. So the choice between a microwave oven and an electric oven is an absolutely individual decision.

Tip 3: Crockery for the microwave oven

Crockery made of vitreous ceramicsor heat-resistant glass, is considered the best option for a microwave oven. Such dishes are suitable for use in various temperature regimes. You can buy glass-ceramic dishes with a ferrite coating, then the dishes will be provided with a nice crust.

For use in a microwave oven, almostall kinds of faience and porcelain dishes. Ordinary glassware is also suitable for such purposes, but only if it is made of thick enough glass. Clay and ceramic utensils are an excellent option for cooking in a microwave oven. Only on such utensils should there be no cracks and chips. Also, it should be covered with glaze only from the outside or glazing should be absent altogether. The absence of decorative elements with "gilding", "silvering" and other metallized spraying is a must for all dishes. After all, this sputtering can lead to sparking. Even in microwave ovens it is allowed to use cookware made of heat-resistant plastic (polypropylene or polyamide), on such utensils there is usually a mark "heat resistance up to 140 ° C". But we do not recommend the use of such dishes in combined microwave ovens, that is, in those where the temperature when switching on some modes can reach higher marks. Paper and cardboard are suitable for rapid warming up of food, parchment (oily) paper acts as gaskets when the products are heated, Sometimes they use disposable aluminum containers and foil in the microwave oven, but only the height of the dishes should not exceed 3 centimeters, and the foil is covered with places of products that would stroy burn. Here you need to know that you can not cover the whole dish with aluminum, because it does not miss microwaves! And also make sure that the aluminum package with the walls of the camera does not touch anywhere, otherwise you will get a real firework of electrical discharges.